Tree and Shrub List for Armenia

Partial List of Trees and Shrubs for Armenia

After the massive tree-cutting period of the early 1990s, caused by the economic blockade and the energy crisis, there was much discussion about deforestation in Armenia. During that period people were cutting trees everywhere and removing anything wooden to burn for heat!
Tree planting is the best action to take in order to mitigate deforestation and tree removal. However care must be taken not to unwittingly harm the environment. One may ask how is it possible to harm the environment by planting trees?

There are many non-Armenian tree species (non-native species), which are invasive and can aggressively occupy an area by crowding out and eventually replacing native, indigenous species of trees. Unfortunately, in Armenia, after the massive tree-cutting period of the early 1990s the planting of invasive species became a common practice, mostly due to lack of awareness of the ecological detriment that planting of invasive species can cause.

Below is a partial list of trees and shrubs which are growing in Armenia. We generally recommend planting only species that are labeled as ‘native’. Any species labeled ‘invasive’ should never be planted and actually should be removed whenever possible. These invasive species have a particular ability to produce thousands and thousands of seeds that can germinate, grow and eventually shade out native species.

There are other ecological reasons for planting only native species of plants having to do with the interactions of insects and wildlife with the plant species.